Kidnap Of Imasogie: Group Tasks Edo State Goverment on Passage of Law Banning Open Grazzing.

By Lucky Isibor.

Following the Kidnap of an elder states and philanthropist in Edo State, Owere Dickson Imasogie and others kidnapped recently, a socio- solitical group, the New  Nigeria Initiative ( NNI ), has called on Edo State governor , Godwin Obaseki to urgently pass  the bill  on ban on Open Grazing in the State.

The group in a protest  to  the  Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) , Edo State 

Council, wondered why the state government has refused to  pass the bill as agreed by the 17 Southern States  governors  in Asaba,  Delta State.

Uwadiae Odigie, chairman of NNI (c) flanked by other members of the group as he reads their press statement.

The protest statement signed by  Uwadiae Odigie, Chairman and Comrade Igbatako Nowinta, Secretary , condemned the delay in passing the bill.

While noting that the people now live in fear and and are worried about the delay, the group asked, ” What Is Governor Godwin Obaseki Waiting For?

“We are Moved by the unspeakable horror being perpetrated by fulani herdsmen on the peaceful and law abiding people of Edo State, it is on record that the New Nigeria Initiative (NNI) initiated a bill on the need to ‘Ban Open Grazing’ in Edo State; and it has since been sent to the Edo State House of Assembly, 14/09/2021

“After waiting in vain, we made Spirited efforts to see His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, on the need for his intervention. At the end of the day Mr. Governor directed us to see the Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Agriculture Edo State.

“We were excited and elated when the Southern Governors Forum fixed September 1st, 2021, deadline for Governors in the area, to pass the law banning open grazing in their respective States.

“We have also been mounting pressure on the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Marcus Onobun on the urgent need to pass the bill on ban of open grazing in Edo State; but all efforts have been abortive.

“Now it has been transparently and sufficiently established, that the Fulani herdsmen are the ones unleashing terror and fear in Edo State by the horrible and shocking cases of the late Jide Sowore and others; the recent kidnapping of the elder statesman, Dickson Imasogie; plus other isolated cases of kidnapping.

"Now that many states within the South-South have responded to the September 1st, 2021, deadline; and the Fulani herdsmen are still ravaging our forests and highways with the fiercest brand of terrorism ever, with its attendant catastrophic consequences on our psyche, what is Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State waiting?

While appealing to the governor to be on the side of the people to use his office to see to the speedy passage of the law banning open grazzing in the state, the group noted that "we are worried about the inability of Edo State Government to respond to this most cold blooded and calculating monsters: Fulani herdsmen, who have turned the state into a sanctuary for barbarism.

"Our hopes are becoming evaporated in the face of this sadistic menace, even as we are convinced that Edo State House of Assembly and Governor Godwin Obaseki will soon do the needful to bring into urgent reality the ‘Law Banning Open Grazing in Edo State."

Addressing the protesters, chairman of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),  chairman of the union, Sir Rolland Osakue commended members of the NNI who he described as responsible individuals who have been contributing in no small measure to the development of state.

Osakue urged them to ensure they do not allow miscreants to hijack the protest just as he assured that their grieviances will be given adequate publicity.